Nail Diseases, Disorders and Conditions

Vocabulary flashcards identifying key nail diseases, disorders, conditions, and infections covered in Pivot Point 102N.12.

Onychosis

Any disease, disorder or condition of the nail.

Etiology

The cause of a disease, disorder or condition.

Onychomycosis

Ringworm of the nail; a contagious fungal infection causing nails to thicken and discolor (black to brown, beige to white), become spongy, and develop white scaly patches with yellow streaks under the nail plate. Also known as Tinea Unguium.

Onychia

General term for non-contagious inflammation of the proximal nail fold (PNF) or lateral nail folds (sidewalls), characterized by redness, swelling, tenderness, and pus formation.

Myxoid Cyst

Small, fluid-filled sacs or lumps that develop on the finger near the nearest finger joint when broken skin allows bacteria into the proximal nail fold (PNF).

Onychatrophia

Atrophy or wasting away of the nail plate causing the nail to shrink and potentially separate from the nail bed.

Onychomadesis

Shedding or loss of the nail plate with separation beginning at the nail matrix when cell creation stops.

Paronychia

Inflammation of the skin surrounding the nail, causing the tissue to be red, swollen, sore, and warm to the touch.

Felon

Painful bacterial infection in the closed space of the fingertip that resembles a blister.

Chloronychia

Also known as green nail syndrome or 'Greenies'; a greenish discoloration of the nail ranging from blue-green to dark green or bluish gray, caused by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

Pyogenic Granuloma

Small, round, usually red skin lesion or growth that can form on the hand, foot, or nail bed, causing severe inflammation around the nail.

Koilonychia

Also known as spoon nails or ski jump nails; an unusual nail disorder characterized by nails with a concave shape.

Horizontal Grooves

Also called corrugations or Beau's lines; horizontal depressions across the width of the nail caused by matrix growth slowing due to injury or illness.

Vertical Grooves

Also called furrows; vertical depressions running down the nail plate caused by normal aging, matrix injury, harsh chemicals, or aggressive cuticle tool use.

Melanonychia

A brown or black darkening of the nail that often appears as a darkened stripe running the length of the nail plate, caused by increased melanin production by melanocytes.

Nail Psoriasis

Autoimmune condition causing shallow or deep holes (pitting) in the nail, thick fingernails, nail dehydration, lifting from the nail bed, and yellow-red spots (salmon patches/oil drops).

Onychogryphosis

Also known as claw nails; an increased thickness or curvature of the nails, occurring most often in the big toe with age or injury.

Onychocryptosis

Technical term for ingrown nails, where the nail grows into the edge of the lateral nail fold or nail bed.

Onychauxis

Also called hypertrophy; an abnormal outgrowth or thickening of the nail plate.

Pincer Nails

Also called trumpet nails; a nail disorder characterized by extreme C-curvature of the nail, causing the ingrown nail to pinch into surrounding tissue.

Plicatured Nails

Also called folded nails; a condition where the nail is flat on top but one or both lateral nail folds angle sharply into the soft tissue.

Bruised Nails

Dark-purplish discoloration under the nail caused by trauma to the nail bed or blood trapped beneath the nail.

Discolored Nails

Condition where nails appear bluish, yellow, or a variety of colors due to product stains, systemic poor circulation, or diabetes.

Fan Nails

Condition where the free edge visually appears wider than the nail base due to a narrow PNF with a flat C-curve.

Hangnails

Also called agnails; split(s) in the proximal nail fold (PNF) or lateral nail fold (sidewall).

Hapalonychia

Also called eggshell nail; very thin, soft nails that sometimes curve over the free edge.

Leukonychia

White spots appearing within the nail plate caused by matrix injury, vitamin deficiencies, or heredity.

Onycholysis

Loosening or separation of the nail plate from the nail bed beginning at the hyponychium progressing toward the PNF.

Onychophagy

Technical term for bitten nails, caused by a nervous habit or stress.

Onychorrhexis

Term for split or brittle nails; deeper than vertical grooves, caused by moisture/oil imbalance or matrix injury.

Onychoschizia

Also known as lamellar dystrophy or delamination; splitting or peeling of the nail plate typically at the free edge.

Pitted Nails

Condition identified by small pits or dents on the surface of the nail, usually related to psoriasis.

Pterygium

Living skin that becomes attached to the nail plate at the PNF (dorsal - top) or hyponychium (inverse - bottom) and stretches as the nail grows.

Splinter Hemorrhages

Red-brown vertical line under the nail plate resembling a wood splinter, caused by trauma to the nail bed where small capillaries bleed.

Bacterial Nail Infections

Nail infections occurring on the surface of the nail plate or between the nail plate and bed, presenting green or yellow discoloration from bacterial waste products; bacteria feed on oil rather than keratin.

Fungal Nail Infections

Infections occurring in the nail plate and nail bed causing swelling, separation into layers, and spreading toward the PNF as the fungus feeds on keratin.